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China Arrests Underground Christian Church Leaders, US Demands Their Release

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Leaders of an underground Christian church in China's Guangxi region, the Zion Church, have been arrested by the Chinese authorities. Pastor Mingri "Ezra" Jin and over 30 other pastors and staff members of the church were detained on Friday. The US Department of State has demanded the immediate release of the detained church leaders and has called on the Chinese Communist Party to allow all people of faith, including members of house churches, to engage in religious activities without fear of retribution.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Zion Church, founded by Pastor Mingri "Ezra" Jin in 2007, is one of the largest underground churches in China with approximately 10,000 congregants in 40 cities.
  • The Chinese Communist Party officially banned the church in 2018 after it resisted government pressure to install security cameras at its property in Beijing.
  • The church has been in operation despite the ban, meeting in small groups and in homes, and sharing online sermons.
  • Pastor Jin's family moved to the United States for safety, but he returned to China to be with his church and was arrested along with other leaders.
  • The church leaders were arrested for "illegal dissemination of religious information via the Internet," with witnesses reporting violence during the arrests.
  • The Chinese government tightly controls religion, encouraging Christians to join state-sanctioned churches that follow the party-line.

Statistics:

  • Over 30 church leaders and staff members were arrested on Friday.
  • The Zion Church has approximately 10,000 congregants in 40 Chinese cities.
  • The church has been in operation for over 14 years.
  • The Chinese Communist Party officially banned the Zion Church in 2018.
  • The church has been meeting in small groups and in homes, sharing online sermons, despite government pressure.

Sources:

  • NPR
  • Statement from Sectary of State Marco Rubio
  • Interview with Pastor Sean Long
  • Interview with Grace Jin Drexel, Pastor Mingri "Ezra" Jin's daughter
  • UPI

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